Academic Staff

Academic staff profiles

Professor of Equity and Inclusion Head of the Department of Disability Inclusion and Special Needs

Julie Allan is Professor of Equity and Inclusion, Head of the Department of Disability Inclusion and Special Needs and Visiting Professor at the University of Borås in Sweden. Her work encompasses inclusive education, disability studies and children’s rights and is both empirical and theoretical. She has a particular interest in educational theory and the insights offered through ...

Simon Asquith is Deputy Director of Undergraduate Studies in the School of Education at the University of Birmingham. He is also national chair of the Association for Partnership in Teacher Education (APTE) and sits on the Executive Committee of the Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET).

Ann-Marie Bathmaker joined the University of Birmingham in 2012 as Professor of Vocational and Higher Education. She started her career working in provision of English for Speakers of Other Languages, and she then worked as a local authority advisor for equal opportunities as part of the Technical and Vocational Education Initiative, before moving into higher education. Her career in ...

Tom started his career as a high school teacher in economics and accountancy. He was a member of the academic staff of the following tertiary institutions: University of South Africa (Pretoria, South Africa), Central University of Technology (Bloemfontein, South Africa), Vista University (Sebokeng, South Africa) and the University of Johannesburg before joining the University of Birmingham in ...

Professor of Bilingualism Director of the MOSAIC Centre for Research on Multilingualism

Adrian Blackledge is Director of the MOSAIC Centre for Research on Multilingualism. He is author of numerous articles and books based on his research on multilingualism in education and wider society. His books include Heteroglossia as Practiceand Pedagogy(2014); The Routledge Handbook of Multilingualism(2012); Multilingualism. A Critical Perspective(2010); Discourse and Power in a Multilingual ...

Angela is a German and French specialist having completed her Teacher Training at Birmingham University. She has held a number of teaching posts in Worcestershire and as well as co-teaching on the MFL PGDipEd, she is an ExcellentTeacher/AST two days a week at Kingsley College in Worcestershire. Her area of expertise is the development of Teaching and Learning. Angela has also carried out ...

Marion is Senior Lecturer in Education in the School of Education, Department for Education and Social Justice. Her areas of research and teaching expertise include post-compulsory education,adult and informal education, widening participation in further and higher education and education in the context of globalisation and internationalisation. In the School of Edication she is ...

Nick Bozic has worked as an academic and professional tutor on the initial training course for educational psychologists since 2004. His special interests include community psychology, strength-based practice, working with organisations and groups, evaluation design and the use of web-based technology to support learning. Nick also contributes teaching sessions on standarised test ...

Alison is the programme lead on the PG Dip Ed Primary/ Early Years ITE course and is responsible for the day to day running of the university and school based training programe. She also heads up the science and computing modules on the programme.

Alison joined the School of Education in January 2010. She has a very strong background in early ...

David Carr is Professor of Ethics and Education and his principal research interests include: ethics, virtue ethics and moral education; the nature of professionalism and professional ethics; aesthetics; and education of the emotions. He has written widely in these areas and s the author of Making Sense of Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy and Theory of Education and Teaching ...

Linda Caswell has taught mathematics for many years in the West Midlands area. She was Head of Mathematics for 15 years in three different schools and so has firsthand knowledge and experience of the changes to both mathematics teaching and Initial Teacher Education. Linda first worked in the School of Education in 2008 and has taught on the PGDipEd (QTS) course on a part time basis before moving ...

Frances is a secondary school teacher and leader with extensive experience in Initial Teacher Education. She has been appointed as Vice Principal of the University of Birmingham School – the country’s first secondary University Training School (UTS) which will open in September 2015. The School aims to transform lives by creating a learning community that will maximise the ...

Joanne Cliffe is Programme Leader for the Post Graduate Diploma in Physical Education (QTS) for Secondary Education and Co-Leader for the MEd in teaching studies. Joanne’s previous experience in higher education included contributions to the PGCE Physical Education course at Loughborough University. Her background is in teaching in secondary education and her posts have included, Head of ...

Gemma has held a number of teaching posts in Birmingham schools since 2003, and before entering higher education held the post of Head of Department in a local secondary comprehensive school. She is a member of the Geographical Association and the RGS-IBG, and has also worked with the Prince’s Teaching Institute on their Schools Programme for Geography, in conjunction with the ...

Sandra is the Director of Partnerships in the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues . Previously she worked in the Centre for Research in Medical and Dental Education, working on a range of projects including the role education may play in changing workplace culture and practices. With a background in education policy she has worked on numerous projects with local schools and higher education ...

Professor of Educational LinguisticsDeputy Director of MOSAIC, Centre for Research on Multilingualism

Angela Creese is professor of educational linguistics in the School of Education.

Her research and teaching cross references anthropology, linguistics and education. She uses ethnography to investigate ideologies and interactions in educational and other social settings. Her research publications cover urban multilingualism, language ecology, multilingual ethnography, ...

Ian completed his PhD in psychology in 1987; then taught in secondary schools in various roles including ICT co-ordinator, head of science and senior teacher. He is currently a Lecturer and leads the Education for Health Professionalsprogramme. In addition he teaches quantitative methods including factor analysis and provides a statistical advice service for the ...

Laura became Lecturer at the School of Education in 2011 after completing a Birmingham Research Fellowship. Prior to that she worked as a member of a team on a large-scale research programme, the National Evaluation of the Children's Fund (DfES) at the University of Birmingham. She joined the University of Birmingham from the University of Oxford where she held an ESRC research studentship and ...

Martine is a Modern Languages specialist (French/Spanish) and has taught in schools and colleges, and in adult and higher education in England. After working as Course Leader for Modern Languages at a sixth form college she developed a portfolio of work by combining teaching, initial teacher training and consultancy work. She has also worked as educational adviser with a ...

Graeme is the deputy head of the Disability Inclusion and Special Needs (DISN) department (with a particular lead on research). DISN is the largest department of its kind in the UK and comprises over 30 academics researching and studying in the field of inclusion, SEN and disability.

Graeme is the co-director of the Visual Impairment Centre for Teaching and ...

Liz is a Research Fellow working on a Sense funded project exploring the impact that diagnosis has for people with Usher syndrome. Liz is interested in exploring the effect of changes in Usher syndrome and the knowledge that someone has Usher, on the life and experiences of a person with Usher.

She will be interviewing people who are about 15, about 25, and about 45 ...

Kit Field has been the Director of Education in the School of Education since August 2014. Immediately prior to this Kit was seconded from his post as the Head of the Centre for Academic Practice at the University of Wolverhampton to the role of interim Executive Headteacher at a large secondary Academy in the Black Country. He has been, the Dean of the School of ...

David Foster joined the School Of Education in September 2014. He teaches Mathematics Education on the PGDip in Primary Education (PGCE Advanced) Primary and Early Years Course. Prior to this he worked for two years at BCU and seven years at Newman University as a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics and Mathematics Education. David has worked as a class teacher and Mathematics Coordinator ...

Research FellowCo-ordinator for Voices of War and Peace First World War Engagement Centre

Nicola Gauld is the Co-ordinator for Voices of War and Peace: the Great War and its legacy. Funded jointly by the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), project will bring together collaborations between academics and community groups to research the ways in which the conflict has shaped the past 100 years. Nicola will be responsible for ...

Professor of Critical Race StudiesDirector of Research, Director of the Centre for Research in Race & Education (CRRE) and Editor-in-Chief, Race Ethnicity and Education

David is Professor of Critical Race Studies, editor-in-chief of the journal ‘Race Ethnicity and Education’, Director of Research in the School of Education and Director of the Centre for Research in Race and Education (CRRE).

David’s research focuses on race inequalities in education, especially the role of racism as a changing and complex characteristic of the system. He has ...

Celia Greenway is the PGDipEd Early Years Co-ordinator and Partnership lead. Initially as a practitioner Celia taught in schools and nurseries across Worcestershire. Prior to joining the University, she was responsible for developing Higher Education provision within the Further Education Sector, and worked in collaboration with the University of Worcester establishing Foundation degrees for ...

Professor of Urban Education HistoryDirector of the Voices of War & Peace Centre

Ian Grosvenor is Professor of Urban Educational History. He is author of numerous articles and books on racism, education and identity, the visual in educational research, the material culture of education and the history of urban education. Books include, Assimilating Identities. Racism and Education in Post 1945 Britain (1997), Silences and Images. The Social History of the Classroom (1999) ...

Senior lecturer in Autism StudiesDirector of Autism Centre for Education and Research

Dr Karen Guldberg is currently Director of the Autism Centre for Education and Research (ACER) at the School of Education, University of Birmingham. She is a Senior Lecturer in Autism Studies in the Department of Disability, Inclusion and Special Needs (DISN).

Dr Guldberg is passionate about ensuring there is synergy between her teaching and research. She teaches on undergraduate level ...

Liz Gulliford has an interdisciplinary background. She gained a Theology degree from Trinity College, Oxford and has a BSc in Psychology. She previously worked for the Psychology and Religion Research Group at the University of Cambridge, where she published work on forgiveness and other virtues, co-editing ‘Forgiveness in Context: Theology and Psychology in Creative Dialogue’ ...

Neil Hall started in his current role in September 2010, although for 20 years, as an Honorary Lecturer, he taught on various CPD programmes in special education and child protection and on initial and post qualification doctoral training courses in educational psychology. Neil is a Chartered Psychologist registered with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a Practitioner ...

Sarah worked in a large Manchester school as Head of department for eight years teaching KS3 and KS4 Religious Studies and Citizenship and KS5 Philosophy, Ethics, New Testament and Hebrew Bible. She is passionate about delivering creative, innovative and inspirational Religious Education which has at its core a promotion of pupil based reflective enquiry. She was the Secondary RE ...

Michael Hand is Professor of Philosophy of Education and Director of Postgraduate Research in the School of Education. He is the Editor of IMPACT, a pamphlet series offering philosophical perspectives on current education policy. Michael's research interests are in the areas of moral, political, religious and philosophical education. He has published books and articles on education for ...

Tom Harrison is the Director of Development at the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues and leads on all the applied research projects – working with schools, colleges, employers, voluntary sector organisations and policy makers across Britain as well as internationally. His specialist interests are character and virtue ethics, youth social action, citizenship, community ...

After qualifying as a teacher at the University of Birmingham in 1991, Anthony taught mathematics in a variety of schools in and around Birmingham, being promoted to Head of Mathematics at Pershore High School in 1999. He became the Director of the Faculty of Mathematics, ICT and BS at Shenley Court School (now Shenley Academy) in Northfield until early retirement in 2012. Returning to ...

Rachel Hewett is a Research Fellow based at Visual Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research

She has been working in VICTAR since February 2010, after moving over from Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit. She is primarily working on a project funded by Nuffield Foundation and has been focusing particularly on the transition experience of visually impaired students; factors ...

Sally took up the position of lecturer on the University of Birmingham PGDipEd secondary English course in 2013. Her previous career was in teaching in comprehensive schools beginning in 1990. Sally has worked as Head of Department , Head of Year and both as Subject and Professional ITE Mentor in schools in South Birmingham and North Solihull.

Liz is the only University lecturer in the country in Deafblindness and The School of Education is the only nationally recruiting programme for teachers who wish to qualify with Mandatory Qualifications recognised by the GTC in deafblindness.

Initially teaching children with severe learning difficulties, an interest in sensory impairment led her on to working with ...

Rachel joined the School of Education as a Research Fellow in April 2014 working on the Translation and Translanguagingresearch project. Before this she worked in the International Office and in the Careers Network at the University of Birmingham, assisting and coordinating large projects, being engaged in their financial administration, serving international and home ...

Binish is a Research Fellow based within the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues. She is currently working on a project which explores course training interventions, which will enable medical, teaching and legal professionals to explore their own virtues and if required, transform them.

Binish is a highly motivated academic professional who has developed her ...

John taught Science and Physics in secondary schools for fourteen years, including a role as Head of Science. For three years, he worked part time at the University of Warwick on the Science PGCE course and part-time in school. He joined the University of Birmingham in 2007 as Lecturer in Science Education with a focus on Physics initial teacher education.

Lila is a chartered psychologist and a SEN teacher. She has a strong interest in school and home-based interventions to promote social communication and play skills in children with autism and learning ...

Ben Kotzee is lecturer in the School of Education. He works on topics in the philosophy of education and focuses on applying insights from contemporary epistemology to questions regarding intellectual development. He also has research interests in the nature of expertise and in professional education. From May 2015, he will be co-investigator on the Phronesis and the Medical Community ...

Professor of Character Education and Virtue EthicsDeputy Director of the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues

Kristján Kristjánsson’s research orientation can best be summed up as that of Aristotle-inspired philosophical scrutiny of theories in educational psychology and values education, with special emphasis on the notions of character and emotional virtue. He has written extensively on themes in general education, moral education, educational psychology, moral philosophy and ...

Maggie's research focuses on second language learning and second language teacher development. She has taught English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in Slovakia and Thailand at primary, secondary and higher education levels, English for Academic Purposes (EAP) in the UK and has worked with language teachers from all over the world, particularly from China, Japan and Slovakia. She is a ...

Jane works as a tutor in educational psychology and is involved in teaching and supervising trainee educational psychologists on the three year initial training programme (Applied Educational and Child Psychology Doctorate). She is also Director of the research doctorate for practising educational psychologists (Ed Psych D programme) which has over 40 students enrolled.

Paul joined the School of Education 2006 to take up a three-year research post as a research fellow in VICTAR. He is working on a Sightsavers International funded project studying the educational inclusion of children with visual impairment in developing countries. This involves establishing an evidence base demonstrating the effectiveness of different educational models of education for children ...

Before joining the University Andrea worked in the voluntary sector, supporting adults with disabilities. She developed and managed models of support (including supported living, employment, peer support and community inclusion) for adults with Asperger syndrome within the West Midlands region.

After gaining his PGCE in 1994 Russell Manning worked as a Teacher of History at the Earls High School in Halesowen. He worked at this school for ten years and held the following posts; Deputy Head of Year, Second in Humanities and Head of History. During this time he also co-ran the annual Summer Literacy School and worked as the History Mentor in the school for the University of ...

Eleni Mariou is a Lecturer in Educational Linguistics. She joined the School of Education in 2014 and teaches on the MA Education TEFL programme. Before taking up this post, Eleni worked as a Teaching Fellow in TESOL at the University of Edinburgh, and also was an Associate Tutor on the distance-learning MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL programme at the University of Leicester for ...

Graeme is a Lecturer in Psychology & Education in the School of Education, Contributing to Undergraduate, Post Graduate Taught and Doctoral programmes.

He started his career in FE before joining the University of Birmingham. His areas of research and teaching expertise include Psychology of Motivation and Learning, Lifespan Development, Lifelong learning, Cultural ...

Jane Head of the Department of Education and Social Justice in the School of Education. She moved to Birmingham from the Institute of Education, University of London, where she was Head of Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. She has lectured in Education Studies, History, Sociology and Women’s Studies at the University of Northampton and London Metropolitan ...

Ian’s work is focussed on the sociological analysis of youth and youth services. His research has taken place within youth service providers, and has focussed on how policy on education, youth and localism relates to the identities and practices of youth workers and related occupational groups. Central to his work is a concern with inequality and social justice, and the role youth services ...

With over 25 years’ experience of teaching in schools and Higher Education (HE) Mike has extensive experience of curriculum design, delivery and evaluation as a teacher, lecturer, Director of Education and a researcher. Mike’s research interests include developing ‘research-informed’ pedagogical practice within HE with a particular focus on the development of ...

James A. Middleton is Professor of STEM Education in the School of Education at the University of Birmingham. He holds a concurrent appointment as Professor of Engineering Education and Director of the Center for Research on Education in Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology at Arizona State University. Prior to these appointments, Dr. Middleton served as Associate Dean ...

Blaire joined the School of Education in 2012, and is working as a Research Associate within the Jubilee Centre for Character and Values. She is currently working on a project funded by the John Templeton Foundation entitled ‘An Attitude for Gratitude’. This project will be examining how the principle of gratitude and service is understood in British society. In particular, it will be ...

Sue has been a practising educational psychologist for more than 25 years, and, in addition to her teaching and research responsibilities within the University, continues to practice as a chartered educational psychologist on a 0.1 full-time equivalent basis.

Senior lecturer in social history and education and Deputy Head of Department

Kevin joined the University of Birmingham in 2000 and teaches social history and education on the BA (Hons) Education. He is a member of the editorial boards for the journals, Education Review, History of Education and Paedagogica Historica.

Emma joined the School of Education in 2014, working as a Research Associate in the Jubilee Centre for Character and Values.She is currently working on a project funded by the John Templeton Foundation, working with the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia. The aim of the project is to evaluate the success of the ‘Torchbearers of Liberty Programme’. This programme involves ...

Mary joined the School of Education as a Lecturer in Mathematics Education in September 2012. Mary has taught Mathematics for many years in local schools in Birmingham, Solihull, and Worcestershire. She also has experience of teaching overseas at a Leading International School in the Middle East. She has 15 years’ experience as a Head of Department in 3 different secondary schools and has ...

Dr Despina Papoudi is a Lecturer in Autism in the Department of Disability, Inclusion and Special Needs (DISN).

Despina taught between 1995 and 2013 on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Greece. She was appointed as an Assistant Professor in Developmental Psychology and Psychopathology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Faculty of Early Childhood Education before ...

Michael is a highly experienced school leader who has been appointed as the first Principal of the University of Birmingham School – the country’s first secondary ‘University Training School’ which will open in September 2015. The School aims to transform lives by creating a learning community that will maximise the personal and academic achievement of all of its ...

She is interested in practices that enable and challenge the continued manifestation of race inequity in contemporary societies. Understanding the role of privilege and power which are often overlooked in race debates is a key aspect of her work. She is especially ...

John Ryan joined the School Of Education in September 2012. He teaches Professional studies on the PGDip in Primary Education (PGCE Advanced) Primary and Early Years Course. Prior to this he worked for six years at Newman University as a Senior Lecturer in Professional Studies. John has worked in many Primary schools in Birmingham and he was a senior member of staff in all the schools he worked ...

Dr. Matthew Schuelka is Lecturer in Inclusion and Special Educational Needs and also serves as the Program Director for the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) program. He comes from a diverse background of study, research, and teaching experience – having taught multiple ages and subjects in the United States, Bhutan, Malaysia, and now the United Kingdom. Besides a ...

Matthew joined the School of Education as a Research Fellow in 2015. He completed a PhD in Philosophy in 2012 and will work in the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues on the ‘Virtuous Character in Business and Finance Project’, which will explore attitudes about virtues held by business and finance students and professionals, as well as ways in which a virtue ethical approach may ...

Academic and professional tutor to Applied Educational and Child Psychology Doctorate programme

Anita Soni is an Academic and Professional tutor in the School of Education.

She is interested in working with children and their families in their early years of life, between birth and 7 years. She is enthusiastic about developing the skills of the Children’s Workforce, especially those working in Children’s Centres, and early years provision in the maintained, ...

His current work draws on both his background in research chemistry and psychology, and new data as to what practices (philosophically, educationally, pedagogically and culturally) might best be adopted to encourage personally meaningful educational practices.

Director of Primary Education Deputy Head of the Department of Teacher Education

Chris joined the University as a lecturer in Primary education and has since held the positions of Director of Studies for ITE and Head of Primary ITE. Her research interests cover the area of special needs and management alongside the area of initial teacher training. She was part of the School of Education team responsible for the DfES Transforming the School Workforce Pathfinder ...

Emma has joined the Jubilee Centre for Character and Valuesas a Research Associate, working with the Step Up to Serve campaign in London. Previous to this role, Emma worked for the youth empowerment charity and Step Up To Serve member Free The Children, where she was responsible for creating educational resources and content for their new website, as well as writing articles, blogs and ...

Gary Thomas took up the post of chair in education at Birmingham in 2005. Before university teaching, he worked as a teacher and as an educational psychologist. In higher education – at the University of Leeds, at Oxford Brookes University, UWE and University College London – his teaching and research have focused on inclusion, special education, and research methodology in ...

David is a Research Fellow in the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues. His interest in character and identity began during a first full career in the British Army. In 2010 he completed a PhD in Sociology and Social Policy at Durham University before moving to USA to work at Purdue University, Indiana, in the Human Development and Family Studies Department (HDFS). From Sep 12 to Feb 15 ...

Reader in Education & Social JusticeDeputy Director, Centre for Research in Race & Education

Paul Warmington is Reader in Education & Social Justice in the School of Education. He has taught and researched for twenty-five years, firstly in FE then in higher education. His research interests include race, class and education; critical theories of race; black education movements, race equality and education policy; widening participation. His most recent book is Black British ...

Linda has a background of experience as a teacher of the deaf and educational audiologist and her research and teaching are rooted in this experience. She is particularly interested in the early language and literacy development of young deaf children and how this can be enhanced by the use of cochlear implants and/or digital hearing aids. She has a collaboration with the University of ...

Sandy has taught Science and Chemistry to A-level in secondary schools for 14 years. This included a secondment to the Royal Society of Chemistry as a School Teacher Fellow as part of the ‘Chemistry for Our Future’ project looking at strategies to overcome secondary to higher education transition issues. Prior to his appointment by the University of Birmingham Sandy was a Secondary ...

Kirsty works part time, and leads the PGDipEd Primary Mathematics Specialist course. Since joining the university, Kirsty established and taught the General Primary and Early Years mathematics courses. Prior to this, she was Research Officer on the ESRC funded project ‘Purposeful Algebraic Activity’ at the University of Warwick, where she also contributed to ...

Kerstin has been appointed as a lecturer and researcher in the Autism Centre for Education and Research. She previously worked for several years in the Oxford Autism Research Group, where she managed the work programme of the International Molecular Genetics Study of Autism Consortium (IMGSAC). As a member of staff at the Oxford Neurodevelopmental Magnetoencephalography (MEG) Centre, Kerstin ...

Angie Wootten is a practising teacher of deaf children and young people. She works in a peripatetic capacity for Warwickshire’s Sensory and Complex team under the over-arching Integrated Disability Service and visits children of all ages and covering a spectrum of need.

Angie has been a placement supervisor and a regional tutor for the university’s course ...

Deborah Youdell is Professor of Sociology of Education in the School of Education and is the Director of the Public Service Academy, an initiative that brings together the public service expertise of the College of Social Sciences to engage and inform public service bodies in Birmingham as well as nationally and internationally.